How many chickens in Eglu Cube

[AlisonH]

Recently my chickens went to visit grandma while we were away for a few days for the first time since we had them. She looked after them fine but they were confined to their eglu run and were only on grass. One of them pulled some of her feathers out,(the chickens, not grandmas!!)- I guess with stress and so I was wanting to get a bigger run I could keep there to use another time. But they seem very expensive and I can't find any local 2nd hand.

 

Then, it struck me - they have a virtually unused greenhouse and I wondered if this was a solution so that I could stand the eglu inside and they had more space to wander round all day. I would leave the door open with our greenhouse wire mesh frame that hubbie knocked up to stop them getting in ours, and I DEFINiTELY wouldn't use the greenhouse when it was warm - just for a week in February.

 

What do people think - is it a sensible solution or can anyone foresee problems??

 

Thanks

[Mum]

First thought: you are guessing a) a chicken pulled her own feathers out and b) it is down to stress. Have you considered it may actually be due to moult?

 

Second thought: if you were only going to use the greenhouse for one week in February ... what happens the other 51 weeks of the year?

 

Chickens, in my experience, are creatures of habit. So, if you utilise the greenhouse area for one week in February you risk a) confusing them; b) putting them off lay and c) I'm confused why one week, why February, what's the point? (I'm clearly not being the brightest button in the box here )

 

The main issue, seems to me, revolves around a larger run space? And, if I'm not mistaken, it will be at Grandma's?

 

I think for the short time they are housed at Grandma's their Eglu and run would be ok with no need to convert a greenhouse. A better solution would be for Grandma to tend the chickens at their own home, but, that may not be possible.

The feather issue could be due to moult (unless someone saw her pulling her own feathers out?).

[Egluntyne]

So long as it doesn't get too hot and you are confident that it is reasonably safe, I can't see the harm in it.

 

You could scatter Aubiose about to give them something to scratch about in.

 

It won't be as certain to be as predator resistant as the Eglu, but if you would prefer them to have more room for the few days that you are away, it is worth a try.

[AlisonH]

I obviously didn't make myself clear 'Mum.'

 

The chickens are going to Grandmas when I can't find anyone to look after them at our house so the next time we are away is in February for a week.

 

Yes it may have been a moult but I still wasn't happy that they only have the run space on the grass which soon got eaten, so I'm just trying to find them a little more moving around space. Plus it was a nightmare taking apart the run to transport.

 

So - I was thinking of using the unused greenhouse for the week at Grandma's house and want people's thoughts on whether it's a good idea or not.

[majuka]

I think as long as it is not hot there should not be a problem. As Egluntyne suggested, scatter something for them otherwise it will be quite a boring surface for them. My only concern would be - does you Grandma store any garden chemicals in there that may be toxic to your Girls?

[Redwing]

I have chooks in my greenhouse for nearly all of the year If not containing them in a run within the greenhouse you run the risk of a fox shoving the door open or a child breaking a pane of glass though. the wire mesh door sounds like a good idea

[sandyhas3chucks]

mine like turfs in their greenhouse.

and a dustbathe

and a bale of straw

and a lock/chain type thing on the sliding doors with one door screwed locked. for added safety

and auto vents incase of a heatwave in Feb.